National Republican., 1887-05-23
"rHE GOOD OLD DAYsYHuMBUe.
Evidence That They Wore Not what
They Are Said to Have Been.
Bridgeport Standard. I

bridgeport standard.t
Men 90 years old remember when there
were no steamboats,, but all travel on the
water was done by the slow, uncertain
means OF sailing vessels, when II one
started for New York II was doubtful II he
would reach there In day or week. Now
we know how many hours and minutes II
requires TO make the trip.
Men now 90 years old remember when
there were no railroads, but oil travel on
land was done by stages, by wagons, by OK
teams, on horseback, and on foot. Now a
network OF railroads covers the whole
country, and several lines run from the
Atlantic to tho Pacific ocean. Now Il re-
quires only six or seven days TO cross the
continent. Formerly that trip required three
months.
Men 80 years old remember when there
were, no photographs, but only paintings
and drawings, made at great prices, OF OBJ
jects now done better in an instant al
trining cost.
Men OF that age also remember when no
steamboat crossed the ocean, and &c was be.
lieved that they never could, but now hun.
dreds Of steamships are plowlng eve y
ocean, reducing the time OF crossing the
Atlantic from weeks 10 days.
Men d5 years old remember when there
that line was done in the old fashioned,
slow way.
Men OF that age also remember when
there were no telegraphs, but all messages
had to be sent by the slow going mails.
Men 25 years old remember when there
were no telephones, but all the messages
now spoken through them had to he sent
by note or special messenger.
All these grand aud useful inventions
have bpen ada within tho m narnnru ~ y,an
now living. The younger generation can
never appreciate them as those do who re
member the want OF them aud therefore
the great convenience they are to the
world.
We often hear OF "the good old days Of
yore." Why deprive our children OF the
enjoyment Of those old days2 Why not
pass law forblddipg steamboats, from
plowing the waters, railroads from running
on land, telegraphs from sending messages,
telephones from being used, all furnaces,
steam heaters, &C., TO be taken out OF
houses and other buildings, all CRATES for
burning coal to be taken out, all stoves to
be melted for old iron, all water works In
cities to be left empty, the use Of all gas
and other illuminators, except dipped tai
low candles, to be discontinued, and really
to go back to the 'good old times" say
for five years. Then, II at midnight on q
cold, stormy night doctor is wanted, he
must be sent for instead Of telephoning for
him. II one wishes to send message to a
distance, instead Of telegraphing he must
write letter and send 1t by stages to q
distant place and wait patiently for days
or weeks for the answer.
When one goes home on freezing night
he can sit by wood fire, roasting on one
side while freezing the other, and reading
by the dim light OF a tallow dip, instead OF
the blaze of gaslight or the more agreeable
light OF Kerosene. II he undertakes jour
ney, instead Of getting into cars and going
where he wishes, the best thing he can do
is to take stage at four times the cost and
ten times the discomfort OF the cars. Let
these and other modern improvements be
forbidden and the "good old daysn.be
brought back, how long would II be before
an extra session Of the legislature would
be demanded to knock the ''good old days''
into splinters, and to restore the much
better modern days which we now enjoy,
and for which we ought to be most devoutly
thankful9